Playing Champions League football with Liverpool is a dream come true, says Adam Lallana

Living the Dream: Lallana says he is 'more or less' back to full fitness Getty

Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana is fulfilling a childhood dream by finally playing in the Champions League.

The 26-year-old is in line for his second start having played for just over an hour in the Reds' late victory over Bulgarian minnows Ludogorets last month and - after missing the start of the season with a knee injury - is now looking for game time to get up to speed with his team-mates.

"I've always dreamt about playing in this competition as a kid," said the £25million summer signing from Southampton ahead of their Group B match in Basle.

"I feel I am more or less there (on fitness). I knew it was going to be tough, I am just delighted to be back playing for such a fantastic club.

FC Basel - everything you need to know

FC Basel - everything you need to know

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Manager: Paulo Sousa

Paulo Sousa needs little introduction to fans of the Championship and, of course, QPR, Swansea City and Leicester City. The Portuguese boss took the reins at Loftus Road in the middle of Rangers’ fabled, if messy, charge towards the Premier League – but he was one of many to feel the force of Flavio Briatore’s axe. He later assumed control of Swansea City, but finished seventh and left the role for Brendan Rodgers after Leicester City and Milan Mandaric came calling. His tenure at the King Power Stadium would last 86 days. “I made a mistake leaving Swansea”, he later admitted. But Sousa has since rebuilt his career after successful spells with Videoton and Maccabi. Following impressive displays against Basel with both clubs across two seasons, Sousa was recognised and handed a three-year deal at Basel.

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Current form

After five successive Swiss Super League crowns, it was always likely FC Basel would take the initiative early in the 2014/15 campaign. The league season started in late July and Paulo Sousa, new to the role after succeeding Spartak-bound Murat Yakin, started well with four successive victories. RotBlau have since remained in pole position, losing just twice in their opening ten fixtures. But it is in the Champions League where there is slight cause for concern. Sousa’s charges were never expected to upset the odds away at Real Madrid, but a 5-1 thumping upset their winning habit and highlighted some defensive frailties that hadn’t shown up against lesser opposition in the domestic game.

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Danger man: Marco Streller

Captain Marco Streller, in his second spell at St-Jakob Park, is widely expected to lead the Basel line and has the ability to bully defences. Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren will likely be tasked with keeping the physical frontman at bay. Streller's hard-working qualities have already seen him net five league goals in seven starts this season, but manager Paulo Sousa has been criticised for opting against using the frontman at every available opportunity. Indeed, Streller was introduced for just the last half an hour of Basel’s defeat to Grasshoppers earlier in September, prompting some puzzled faces in the terraces. He has since played every minute in the Swiss league, and laboured for more than 70 minutes in Basel’s defeat to Real Madrid. Expect a reaction.

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Tactical approach

Paulo Sousa has plenty of quality depth in his squad and has underlined this by rotating his players, to some fans’ dismay, as much as possible this season. Because of Sousa's insistence on juggling his resources, the 44-year-old Portuguese boss has failed to settle on a regular formation, but 3-4-2-1 seems to be the former Swansea boss's favoured approach. Central defensive Taulant Xhaka, however, has made the role in the heart of defence his own - playing every minute of Basel's league campaign - and will be keeping a watchful eye on the pacy Raheem Sterling. Sousa will call on his wingers to launch the Swiss champions forward, but boasts more pace on the right side through young winger Derlis Gonzalez, 20, so Alberto Moreno can expect a busy night at left-back.

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Familiar faces: Philipp Degen, Walter Samuel

Philipp Degen had a largely forgettable spell at Liverpool between 2008 and 2011. The Switzerland international was brought to Anfield by Rafa Benitez, but his time was marred by injury. Degen made seven starts for the Reds in two seasons on Merseyside, before he sealed a season-long loan move to Stuttgart in 2010. His Liverpool career will be remembered for a one-sided exchange with Jamie Carragher during a victory at White Hart lane in Degen’s second season with the club. Having already dished out a helping of verbal volleys throughout the contest, Carragher screamed at his wounded colleague in the second-half: “There’s nothing wrong with you!”. He is unlikely to feature against his former club. Elsewhere, former Inter Milan man Walter Samuel is widely expected to start at St-Jakob Park on Wednesday. The centre-back won the Champions League under Jose Mourinho in 2010.

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"I think it gives you more game opportunities to get up to speed, to knit with the group and your new team-mates.

"It is obviously a tough competition and there is no easy game but, to take the positives out of it, it is another game."

Manager Brendan Rodgers will be hoping for a good performance from Lallana against Basle, with England striker Daniel Sturridge not yet fit to return from a thigh strain.

The Swiss side have begun their season with seven wins in 10 league matches, although they were over-run by Real Madrid 5-1 in their opening Champions League match.

Rodgers will not be taking their opponents, who have beaten Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United in the last four years, lightly having seen his own side scrape past Ludogorets with an added-time penalty.

"This is a club that is used to winning. They play like a big team," he said. "When they come into this tournament they have that confidence and freedom and they have some excellent players.

"The Chelsea games home and away last season showcase that to everyone."

Liverpool return to the scene of one of their embarrassing Champions League exits as Basle's St Jakob Park was the venue in 2002 for their 3-3 draw - having been held 1-1 at home - which saw them exit the group stages.

Captain Steven Gerrard is the only survivor from that side but it is not an event about which he speaks much considering he suffered the ignominy of being replaced at half-time by Salif Diao of all people with the side 3-0 down.

Gerrard ranked it as one of the worst performances of his career - prompting then manager Gerard Houllier to publicly question whether the then burgeoning 22-year-old was believing his own hype - so no wonder no one has asked him for his recollections.

"I've not had that conversation with him," said Lallana of Liverpool's defeat 12 years ago.

"It is great we have a role model like Stevie within the group: he's been there and done it before, lifted the trophy so his experience is invaluable for us."